THE MOVIE MIRACLE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20112, 24 November 1928, Page 9 (Supplement)

THE MOVIE MIRACLE.

SOUND FILMS FOR AUCKLAND. In March of next year Auckland audiences will bo introduced to talking films in the. form which have swept them into popularity throughout tho United Sfates. At least two theatres, tho Strand and Regent, will bo equipped for sound pictures, and, with gnod " talkies" being produced by the Universal and First National companies, ono of tho Thomas !A. O'Brien theatres will fall into line, giving tho city three " talkie" houses.

So groat has been tho American demand for tho installation of tho sound-producing mechanism that manufacturers in tho United States havo had no time to turn their attention to tho foreign market. " Talkies" havo been tho vogue in [America for some time now, but it was only comparatively recently that the first talking film was released in London. 'Although both tho Fuller-Hay ward and Williamson firms ordered thoir sound installations some time ago, they cannot bo despatched from New York beforo February. Thoy will bo brought out by technical experts, who will instruct local operators in their use.

The Fuller-Hay ward firm, having booked Warner Brothers' films for the corning year, will bo nhlo to show some of the most successful sound pictures yet produced. Warner Brothers were really the pioneers in bringing out the entertainment values of tho " talkie," and in " The Jazz Singer" and the " The Singing Fool' they have two pictures which havo almost sot Broadway on fire. The leading artist in both theso films is Al. Jolson, perhaps tho most popular jazz artist in America, and tho films have lieen planned to givo him full scopo for his popular songs at tho piano. It has been the general view of American critics that Jolson could not havo been successful in tho silent drama of tho screen; in sound pictures ho is hailed as a conspicuous success.

Tho Regent Theatre will screen Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films next year, and this company is prodcing sound as well as silent prints of most of its films. Tho majority will not bo produced entirely with sound—the same applies to the productions of all companies—but they will lnivo synchronised sound effects. However, Motro-Goldwyn-Mayei is producing its great complete " talkie" in tho screen version of " The Trial of Mary Dugan, recently played hero by Mr. Leon Gordon, and this will probably bo tho first complete dialogue film to be shown at the Regent. Tho outstanding films to bo shown at the O'Brien theaters during next year such pictures as " Lonesome, ' Boat" and "The Man Who Laughs will all be made with special sound accompaniment, so the Auckland public will havo ample opportunity to its own views on the merits of the " talkie. However, sound pictures will not stop at feature productions. Indeed, gazettes and films of celebrities should be am onf tho most interesting products of the new system. Already American audiences have both heard and seen L». J->. Shaw and Signer Mussolini on tho screen, while a talking film of King Georsre was also made recently, lhese should form a great attraction at Auckland theatres next year. British pictures, too will bo made with sound, and the theatres will be ablo to maintain their international appeal,'